Curtain-fixture.



No. 810,281. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906. P. A. HOUGHTALING.

CURTAIN FIXTURE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 9, 1905 "MI I j llllH UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

PAUL A. HOUGHTALING, OF RIVERTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTAINSUPPLY COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL A. HOUGHTALING, residing at Riverton, NewJersey, have. invented certain Improvements in Curtain- FiXtures, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in curtain-fixtures, and has foran object the provision of a simple and inexpensive device in whichimproved means are afforded for relatively shifting one or both of apair of oppositely-arranged parts to effect their operation as guidingor retaining means for a curtain or shade.

The invention also comprehends the operative connection ofinstrumentalities with said shifting means for forcing the guiding orretaining part or parts in a direction in opposition to said shiftingmeans.

These objects I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of aportion of a curtain-rod, showing my invention as ap plied to pressingapart the shoe-carrying rods. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of thedevice shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the springemployed-in that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 isa front elevation, partly in section, of a curtainrod and a pair ofshoe-carrying rods equipped with a special form of my invention. Fig. 5is an inverted plan view of the device shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is afront elevation of one form of spring which may be used with that styleof my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and Fig. 7 is an elevation of amodified form of spring which I may use.

In the above drawings, A is a tubular curtain-rod, usually carried at ornear the bottom of curtains of the type commonly found in various formsof railroad-vehicles. Slidably mounted within this tube are two rods B,each of which usually carries a shoe b of any desired construction (notillustrated in detail) adapted to enter and act within the guidewaysprovided on the window-frame.

However, a holding engagement may be effected in any other desiredmanner.

Projecting through a slot a on the curtainrod A and respectively fixedin the adjacent ends of the shoe-rods B are two screws or pins 1), towhich is attached a piece C of spring material, so made as tocontinually tend to force apart the pins 1), and consequently the rodsB, to which they are attached. Bushings b are confined between thespring C and the heads of the screws or pins 1), and these serve ashandles or pinchpieces which may be grasped by the fingers when it isdesired to move the rods B toward each other, and consequently releasethem from gripping engagement with the guideways of the window-frame.The springpiece 0 is preferably made as a stamping of the shape shown inFig. 3; but it will be understood that the method of manufacture isimmaterial.

If desired, the spring-piece may be made, as shown at c in Fig. 6, withthe pinch-handles 0 formed integral with the spring, which is insertedthrough a pair of slots at and (1 formed in the curtain-rods A andattached to the shoe-rods B by means of screws 5 at the ends of thesame. In any case it will be noted that the spring-piece issubstantially U-shaped, and in this instance its upper portion,corresponding to the lower portion of the letter U, projects through andbeyond the curtain-rod A. This form of the device would be particularlydesirable where it was advisable to conceal the spring within the bodyof the curtain attached to the rod A.

In place of a stamping such as that shown at O in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 Imay employ a spring-wire formed as illustrated in Fig. 7 at O having itsends bent to form eyelets and held in the same position as the piece Cby means of screws carrying. bushings which serve as pinch-handles.

The action or operation of the device is obvious, the moving together ofthe shoe-rods B by means of the pinch-handles releasing the curtain, sothat it may be raised orlowered at will, while the release of saidhandles permits the spring to force the said rods B apart and hold thecurtain stationary, owing to their gripping engagement with theguideways in the window-frame.

I claim as my invention 1. In a curtain-controlling device, thecombination of two shoe-rods connected to the lower portion of thecurtain, andv a substantially U-shaped spring joining said rods andtending to force them apart, substantially as described.

2. In a curtain-controlling device, the combination of a tubularcurtain-rod, two shoerods Within said curtain-rod, and a spring outsideof the curtain-rod operatively associated with the ends of saidshoe-rods, and tending to force them apart, substantially as described.

3. In a curtain-controlling device, the combination of a tubularcurtain-rod, two shoerods within said curtain-rod, and asubstantiallyU-shaped spring having its ends attached respectively tothe saidshoe-rods and tending to force them apart, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a pair of shoe-rods guided in the lower portion ofa curtain, a substantially U-shaped spring connecting said rods andtending to force them apart, with pinch-handles for moving said rodstoward each other against the action of the spring, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination of a tubular curtainrod supported on the lowerportion of acurtain, two shoe-rods, a substantially U-shaped springoperatively associated with said shoerods through a slot in thecurtain-rod, and pinch-handles connected to said spring for movingtogether the shoe-rods, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a tubular curtain rod, shoe-rods Within the same,handles operatively associated With the shoe-rods and projecting througha slot in the curtain-rod, with a piece of spring material extendingbetween said handles outside of said curtainrod, substantially asdescribed.

7. The combination of a tubular curtainrod, two shoe-rods therein, witha piece of spring material operatively associated with the ends of theshoe-rods and projecting above the same, with handles connected to thespring-piece, substantially as described.

8. A curtain-fixture including a pair of oppositely-disposed rods,pinch-handles operatively associated with said rods, and a springbridging said handles for normally shifting the rods in oppositedirections, said pinch-handles and spring being formed for jointattachment to said rods.

9. A curtain-fixture including a pair of oppositely-disposed rods,pinch-handles operatively associated with said rods, and a springbridging said pinch handles for normally shifting one of said rods inone direction, said pinch-handles and spring being formed for jointattachment to said rods.

10. A curtain-fixture including a pair of oppositely-arranged rods, anda bow spring bridging the space between said rods for relativelyshifting said rods, in combination with means for fastening the ends ofsaid spring to the ends of said rods.

11. A curtain-fixture including a pair of oppositely-arranged rods, anda bow spring bridging the space between said rods for relativelyshifting one of said rods, in combination with means for fastening theends of said spring to the ends of said rods.

12. A curtain-fixture including a pair of oppositely-arranged rods, aspring bridging said rods and connected thereto for relatively shiftingsaid rods, and pinch-handles connected to and projecting outwardly fromsaid spring, said pinch-handles and spring being formed for jointattachment to said rods.

13. A curtain-fixture including a pair of oppositely-arranged rods, aspring bridging said rods and connected thereto for relatively shiftingone of said rods, and a pinch-handle projecting outwardly from saidspring, said pinch-handle and spring being formed for joint attachmentto said rods.

14. A curtain-fixture including a pair of oppositely-arranged rods and abow spring operatively associated with the rods for relatively shiftingone of them.

15. A curtain-fixture including a curtainstick, a pair ofoppositelyarranged rods therein, and a spring for relatively shiftingone of said rods connected thereto at its inner end, said spring beingarranged without the curtain-stick.

16. A curtain-fixture including oppositelyarranged rods, means forrelatively shifting one of said rods comprising a spring havingapertured portions, and screws passing through said apertured portionsand engaging the rods to secure the springs in place.

17. A curtain-fixture including oppositelyarranged rods, means forrelatively shifting one of said rods comprising a bow spring havingapertured portions, and screws passing through said apertured portionsand engaging the rods to secure the spring in place.

18. A curtain-fixture including oppositelyarranged rods, means forrelatively shifting one of said rods comprising a spring havingapertured portions, screws passing through said apertured portions andengaging the rods to secure the spring in place, and a pinch-handleprojecting from said spring.

19. A curtair1-fixture including oppositelyarranged rods, means forrelatively shifting one of said rods comprising a bow spring III frame,a bow spring for actuating the same, and a pinch-handle integral withsaid spring formed to project Without said guideway.

In testimony whereof I have signed my I 5 name to this specification inthe presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

PAUL A. HOUGI-ITALING.

Witnesses:

E. R. LOUGHERY, Jos. H. KLEIN.

